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I am looking forward to next year (Thank you Carrie for a wonderful program!!!)with Preparing, but I don't know what to choose.
Here is my situation
Ali (9) Bigger with Extension package
Ana (6) Beyond with phonics and Emerging over two years
I put them in separate programs, because I couldn't/didn't want to make one fit them both. I started my oldest a little behind where she should be because this is our first year. In doing this I have my oldest doing the extension materials but don't know if my youngest will ever use them since she will be doing the same program one year younger than my oldest will. So, looking towards next year I don't know if I should buy just the Hist. read alouds, or the extension package or both and then not use them when Ana comes along and then have to buy the independent readers for her. Any help would be appreciated. I know I'm way ahead of myself since we won't need to use the next curriculum for another seven months, but I like to have my ducks in a row.
Thanks!
AmyB

AmyB,
I am a planner also, trying to figure our where my 2 year old will be in the 4 year history cycle when she starts high school! We completed the first 4 units of Preparing in August, and have changed to Bigger. I think you may have less of a dilemma than you think. First of all, Preparing is for 8-10 year olds, with the extensions for 11 and 12, so you probably won't even need the extensions. It is quite a jump from Bigger to Preparing, with research and much more independent work. Also, you mentioned having to buy the independent readers for your younger dd, but they are a part of the program you would buy anyway, with the extensions as supplements. This section includes copywork and drawing. Does this make sense?
You might consider using your extensions for Bigger as read-alouds with your younger dd. We are doing this with my 8 year-old dd.
Enjoy your planning!

Kathy

Hi AmyB! I'm a planner as well. I ditto Kathy's post. The extension package for Preparing... is a mid-fifth to upper seventh grade reading level, and it's meant to be independent. So, I think you should just do what's in Preparing... and not the extension for it. Then, you can just do Bigger... for your younger child.

I'm confused about the read-alouds/independent readers part - hey, it's late in the afternoon - so my mind is a bit foggy. The read-alouds for Storytime for Bigger... are based on the genre. Are you using those read-alouds now with your older? If so, you can just read those again with your younger. Or, if you want a change of reading for yourself and have the funds, why not just order a different Bigger... read-aloud set to read aloud with your younger?

Or, are you talking about independent reading books that your younger would read out loud to you with DITHOR (after your child's finished the Emerging Reader's Set)? If so, there are 2 levels of book packs available for DITHOR, or you can just choose your own books according to the genres you want to cover.

I'm not sure if this will be helpful at all - please let me know if I'm way off-base here.

In Christ,
Julie

Amy,

The ladies have done a great job of answering your questions. We've had this situation at our house too! My older kiddo is reading Extension Pack books that my next one coming up will not need (because he's younger when he's getting to the similar program). That's alright. You can always use those Extension Pack books as read-alouds or even use them in DITHR (which works with any books you choose).

As far as Preparing goes, the reading level is pretty high on the Extension Pack books. If your 9 turning 10 year old is a great reader, you could have her do those books. Otherwise, you could use the Deluxe Package for her, keeping the readings on the shorter/easier side as scheduled (and then re-using those books for your next kiddo coming up). My older son read and loved all the books in both packs, so you really can't go wrong.

Blessings,
Carrie

Carrie,
so it would be okay to do the economy package, the science package and the deluxe package with a 10 year old who is a great reader. The only reading aspect that she struggles with is orally retelling a story. She can read a story and answer questions on it really well, but she just struggles with retelling it in her own words.
The last thing that confuses me is this, there are three different history packages, I know what/who the extension package is for, but what is the main difference between the history read alouds and the deluxe history package. How do you determine which one you should get?
Thanks!
Amy

The basic package (not to be confused with the economy package which includes the history spines) is the storytime box in the upper right hand on the left page. These correlate to the history readings, so it sometimes is from the Bible as well, which can also be a little confusing if you are looking at the sample week. By 4th day of unit 1, you are reading The True Story of Noah's Ark. The deluxe package is the independent history study at the bottom of the page. It includes Draw and Write Through History, so the kids are given step by step instructions on drawing the garden of Eden, etc. Other days it includes copywork or reading assignments. So, you would buy both if you can! I was able to find quite a few at my library or get them through interlibrary loan.

Amy,

Typically, we would recommend that an 8-10 year old child would do the Deluxe Package and an 11-13 year old child would do the Extension Package. If your daughter is a great reader, then you have a decision to make as to whether to bump her up into the Extension Package or keep her in the Deluxe Package. I would weigh that portion of her day and see what you wish it to be.

Since that part is intended to be independent, would you rather have her read more difficult, lengthier books and mainly narrate to you either orally or in writing and possibly do some of her own notebooking on ideas of her own choosing from those readings.... or would you rather have her have shorter simpler readings (with still quite meaty content) and have her assignments be copywork, oral narration, sketching, reading aloud portions to you, etc. with these assignments all laid out for her?

At our house, I will often choose a simpler assignment for the kiddos to do on their own while saving the more difficult content etc. for us to go over together, but you may have a different approach. This is why we give options.

The Basic Package books are for you to read-aloud to your daughter for the Storytime portion of the plans.

Blessigns,
Carrie

Carrie and all,
thank you for your posts. You have helped me choose. Unless something changes drastically in the next months we will stay with the deluxe package instead of the extension package for two reasons. One, the next one can use it as well, and two, I don't thing I want that much stress to our day. She does not like to do things independently and I don't deal well with things that aren't laid out. I think I will save some of the extension reading and do that together with her if we feel we need more rather than get us both stressed out and in tears. I was glad to hear this from others too, then I don't feel guilty or like I'm giving in.
Thanks!!!!
AmyB

What a sense of peace that must give you Amy! I think in the long run you will be glad you made this decision. Days at home need to be as stress-free a possible since life adds unforeseen stress all of the time (at least this is a pattern in my life ). May God bless you as you homeschool with HOD!

In Christ,
Julie